This report investigates the dimensionality of the 1992 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics test in the context of subgroup differences. The analysis approach of this study utilized key grouping variables of the NAEP reports (e.g., gender, ethnicity), but had the advantage that subgroup comparisons were not only done in…

Poses the question, "Who will do science in the 21st century?" Indicates the importance of providing public education for all Americans. Criticizes the lack of women in chemistry faculty positions. (YDS)

The author reviews classroom atmospheres that are commonly found in American schools and examines implications for instruction of minority students. Topics covered include (1) teacher expectations, (2) feminization of the classroom, (3) the cooperative context, (4) attribution of success and failure, (5) caring of the teacher, and (6) democracy of…

Sex fair performance evaluation has been a primary concern in physical education. A discussion of physiological differences between males and females shows how problems in developing fair evaluation plans arise. Suggestions for developing a sex fair grading plan and an example program adaptable to other settings are offered. (DF)

Reports on a study of two classroom learning environment questionnaires developed in a culturally diverse context, specifically the Pacific Islands. Concludes that females perceive their environment more favorably than males. (Contains 96 references.) (DDR)

Notes how females are known to excel over males in most reading tasks, but not consistently so in tasks that require processing information from maps, tables, charts and diagrams, so called "Documents." Describes and analyzes gender differences on Document tasks, and investigates if and how the pattern of differences varies over countries. (SG)

A study investigated the problem-solving performance, style, and cross-cultural differences of 72 students (ages 9-15) with mild mental retardation from African American, European American, and Nigerian cultural backgrounds. Nigerians generated more independent responses and European American generated more independent responses than African…

This paper lies at the interpretive intersection of several lines of research, some of them quite familiar to mathematics educators, and some of them probably less so. Among familiar discourses are cognitive constructivism, social construction, situated learning, and the psychological study of differences between groups defined by gender, race,…

This study examines preadolescents' choice of admired individuals and the reasons given in support of that admiration in two different cultures. Students in the fourth and fifth grades of a public school in East Brunswick, New Jersey and in a Jewish parochial school in the same community comprised the American sample of 100 boys and 115 girls. A…

The purpose of this report is to document changes in U.S. mathematics achievement by reviewing national trend studies, college admissions examinations, and advanced placement tests. This report examined this quantitative research literature to determine trends in mathematics achievement of various social groups defined along lines of race, class,…

An alternative procedure to the draw-a-scientist test (DAST) was used to uncover students ideas about science, scientists, and technology. A series of illustrations (based on the interview-about-instances (IAI) procedure) concerned with appearance, gender, work place, and employment were developed. Through interviews, students (n=121) responded to…

To improve preparation of school administrators, attention must be given the issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and social class. Two studies are presented. One, entitled "Preparation of Educational Administrators for the 21st Century: Graduate Student Voices on Issues of Diversity" (Joan Poliner Shapiro, Laurence Parker) captures the perspectives…

A historical view of the production and treatment of human difference and diversity in Ontario (Canada) school policy and practices is presented. Five distinct patterns are identified that have characterized the educational treatment of difference and diversity in Ontario. It is argued that continuing examination of the treatment of difference is…

Fewer U.S. college students are choosing to study math, science, and engineering and half of those who do eventually switch to non-science majors. In this book scholars and policy analysts from a variety of disciplines describe the present demographic situation, analyze the effectiveness of current programs for recruitment and retention, and…

Reports findings of three studies designed to examine patterns of masculinity and femininity in males and females separately both within and across three ethnic groups: Anglo, Black, and Chicano. The first two studies looked at identity patterns in adolescents, whereas the third examined the same patterns in elementary school students. (KH)